Seoul Train Documentary Screening

Join Physicians for Human Rights tomorrow evening for a screening of the documentary "Seoul Train," followed by a discussion with the filmmaker!

See below for more information about the event.

More information on Seoul Train

"Seoul Train":: Film screening + meet the filmmaker!!

Date: Wednesday, 2/4/09

Time: 7:00-9:00pm

Location: HSC 301

Please join us for the screening of Seoul Train, a gripping documentary of the life and death of North Koreans as they attempt to escape their homeland and China through an "underground railroad." Although some activists are risking their lives to save these refugees, this potentially explosive humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by scornful international laws, as well as the inaction and bureaucracy of the United Nations. The situation is difficult, but not hopeless - so come and see how you can help these refugees!

The screening will be followed by Korean refreshments and a discussion with the filmmaker.

Global Health Education UPDATE!

We now have the complete text of the Choose Your Own Adventure event by Chase and Ramon!  This event was part of the module on the ethics of global health education.

Click here to view the full document and choose another adventure!

Unite For Sight 6th Annual Global Health Conference

For anyone interested in global health, consider the upcoming conference presented by Unite For Sight, "Achieving Global Goals Through Innovaction" which will be held at Yale University on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19, 2009.  See below for information and links to the full schedule of events and registration.

200 Speakers, Including Keynote Addresses by Dr. Susan Blumenthal, Nicholas Kristof, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Dr. Sonia Sachs, Dr. Al Sommer, and Dr. Harold Varmus. Plus social innovation sessions by CEOs and Directors of Save The Children, Partners in Health, HealthStore Foundation, mothers2mothers, and many others.

What? Join 2,500 people from all 50 states and from more than 60 countries for an innovative, high-impact idea incubator. 
Who should attend? Students, public health professionals, doctors, educators, scientists, lawyers, universities, corporations, nonprofits, and others.  Anyone interested in international health and development, public health, eye care, medicine, social entrepreneurship, nonprofits, philanthropy, microfinance, human rights, anthropology, health policy, advocacy, public service, environmental health, and education.

For the full conference schedule, click here

To register, click here

The Ongoing Crisis in Zimbabwe

Hi all,

I'd like to bring more attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.  The UN has just released estimates that there have been 60,000 cases of cholera, and over 2,800 people have died from this curable condition.  Instead of acting to help his people, the Mugabe regime has sent police to clear teaching hospitals, shut off water for months, and has refused to address the mass starvation of his people.  Earlier in the year, he refused to admit defeat in the general election.  Instead, he has said "I will never, never never surrender...Zimbabwe is mine."  Now Zimbabwe is plagued with cholera, anthrax, and pellagra.  

Over 4 million Zimbabweans have tried to escape to South Africa.  However, on the way countless women and children have been robbed and raped by "gumagumas," and life in Musina, where most of the refugees have settled for now, is not much better than what they have escaped.

Please make an effort to learn about the horrific situation in Zimbabwe by reading a few of the articles I've included below:

Zimbabwe: 'If Cholera Doesn't, Hunger Will Finish Us' (allAfrica.com, 12/8/08)

In Zimbabwe, a Cancer Called Mugabe (Washington Post, 1/8/09)

Desperate Children Flee Zimbabwe, for Lives Just as Bleak (NY Times, 1/23/09)

Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic could top 60,000 cases, UN says (Telegraph, 1/24/09)

If you are able, consider donating to two organizations who have taken the lead in dealing with this disaster:

Medecins Sans Frontieres

Physicians for Human Rights

Spread the word about the situation in Zimbabwe -- the media certainly isn't doing a good enough job.

Be well,

Alex

National PHR Conference in Providence

Hi all,

For any of you who may be interested in health and human rights, consider attending the National PHR Conference in Providence, titled "Health & Human Rights in 2009: Global Problems, Local Solutions."  Registration is $35.  Housing with students may be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Click here for more information.

Measuring the Ethics of Global Health Education

Hi all,

To those of you who came to our "Choose your own adventure" event on Wednesday, 1/14.  If you couldn't make that event, but are still interested in the ethics of getting health education abroad, come to our next event, this Tuesday, 1/20 at 6pm.  See below for a full description of the panel discussion.

“Measuring the Ethics of Global Health Education”

-Thinking of learning abroad?  Do ethical dilemmas keep you up at night?

Come hear Dr. Linnea Capps, head of one of the P&S fourth year International Electives Programs, and Lauren Taggart Wasson, MPH, discuss and debate the ethics of international medical education and our current methods of evaluating these projects.

6:00 p.m. in Hammer 324 on January 20^th.

Food will be served.

Click here to read an article written by Lauren Taggart Wasson.

 Dr. Linnea Capps is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in addition to working as Assistant Clinical Professor of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health and Associate Director of the Department of Medicine and director of the residency program at Harlem hospital.   She spends a part of each year working in her community health project in Chiapas, Mexico with Doctors for Global health which is a private non-profit organization promoting health, education, art and other human rights throughout the world.  Dr. Capps works with a small community hospital and health promoter training project in a Mayan indigenous population.  Dr. Capps received her MD from the University of Missouri – Columbia and her MPH from Columbia University.

Lauren Taggart Wasson, MPH, is a medical student at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Her graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University and work for the USAID- funded POLICY Project focused on international HIV/AIDS.

The P&S Student Forum on Global Health and Human Rights is a partnership between the International Health Organization (IHO) and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR).  This year, it is graciously co-sponsored by Clinical Practice, FMIG, AMSA and Lambda.

P&S Forum: Your International Elective: An Ethically Ambiguous Choose Your Own Adventure

The P&S Forum on Global Health & Human Rights presents "Your International Elective:  An Ethically Ambiguous Choose Your Own Adventure"

Wednesday January 14 at 12:30 pm, HSC 322

The Forum on Global Health & Human Rights kicks off a new module entitled "The Ethics of Global Health Education."  As the summer approaches, many 1st year medical students will embark on international educational programs.  What are the benefits to these organizations?  Are they doing more harm than good?  Who is truly benefiting from the experience?  How could we measure the benefits and are we?

Do you remember Choose Your Own Adventures? Aren't they awesome?

Lunch will be provided!

Read a provocative article by Monsignor Ivan Illich titled "To Hell With Good Intentions"